Griffins in Kerry

Good Morning

As you probably know, Kilmalkader is a Civil Parish in Co. Kerry:

http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/fuses/townlands/index.cfm?fuseaction=TownlandsInCivil&civilparishid=1151&civilparish=Kilmalkedar&citycounty=Kerry

Records for the corresponding Roman Catholic Parish of Ballyferriter begin in 1807.

The only way to really determine who, if any, of those listed on Griffith?s Valuation is related to your ancestor is to collect as much information as possible. What will help you determine a relationship to some degree, will be things like sibling names and those listed as witnesses and sponsors on records or maybe details from passenger lists. Have you tried searching Ancestry.com for any mention of your ancestor?s name in member family trees or messages? Ancestry are also hosting ?webinars? on their site. The latest focuses on how to use Irish records when you do not know where your ancestor is from. 

You can read about the records at Irish Genealogy here: http://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/irish-records-what-is-available/church-records

I would try to gather as much information as possible and hope, later on to be in a position to dimiss one or retain others. 

You could also check the Tithe Applotment Books: 

 http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/index.jsp

Have a look at the Ordnace Survey Historical Mps Series. This will give you a good idea where exactly the land listed was located: http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,591271,743300,0,10 ;

Remember to post any new information that you find here. The more information you post, the more likely it is that one of our volunteers will be able to advise or assist you. Also include information concerning which sources you may have already used so others may further your search.

Best of luck with your search

Clare Doyle

Genealogy Support  

If you can get a male Griffin descendant of these families to have Y-DNA testing done you may be able to find Griffin matches that can confirm or rule out the locations of Griffin ancestors.

23andme is relatively inexpensive but can provide pretty good evidence that a male Griffin is or is not from the Griffin paternal line unique to County Kerry.  Male County Kerry who test with 23andme with 23andme's new (v5) chip will be assigned to the Y haplogroup R-S764.

Ftdna has options to get much more specific Y DNA results but it is more expensive.  You also have to be lucky that the testee's Y DNA is a close match to other testees who have good genealogical records.

Correction:

This line "Male County Kerry who test with 23andme with 23andme's new (v5) chip will be assigned to the Y haplogroup R-S764."

Should be: "Male County Kerry Griffins who test with 23andme with 23andme's new (v5) chip will be assigned to the Y haplogroup R-S764."